Court Hears of Yacht Couple's Final Moments

Killer recounts tying Ariz. pair to anchor, tossing overboard
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 17, 2008 6:52 AM CDT
Court Hears of Yacht Couple's Final Moments
Ryan Hawks poses on the deck of his home over looking the Pacific Ocean in Cardiff by the Sea, Calif. on Sept. 23, 2008.    (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

A prosecution witness has given a California court chilling details of how he and two accomplices murdered an Arizona couple at sea, ABC News reports. Alonso Machain said he, accused ringleader  and former child actor Skylar Deleon, and another man forced the retired couple to sign their yacht over to them, then blindfolded them with duct tape, tied them to the yacht's anchor and pushed it overboard.

"They were basically yanked—yanked into the ocean," said Machain, who is cooperating with prosecutors in a deal to avoid Death Row. Machain, who fled to Mexico after the murders but voluntarily returned to admit his guilt, said the gang then headed for shore—with one opening a beer while another fished. A jury will decide next week if Deleon, whose lawyer has already admitted his client took part in the killings, should get the death penalty.
(More murder trial stories.)

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